County Cricket Round-Up - 17th August

There were centuries for Ben Brown, Michael Yardy, Steven Croft, Adam Wheater and Ryan ten Doeschate on the first day of matches in round 17 of the LV= County Championship while there was a decisive win in the CB40 for Surrey. By Daniel Grummitt.

Lancashire hit back against Worcestershire on the first day of their LV= County Championship Division One match at Blackpool. After struggling in the morning session against Richard Jones (three for 62), they eventually recovered to be bowled out for 282 with Steven Croft hitting his second century in two matches. Glen Chapple and Kyle Hogg then reduced Worcestershire to 21 for five in reply, before a brief rally from Aneesh Kapil and Gareth Andrew took them to stumps on 77 for five.

Only eight overs were possible at Taunton as rain hung over the south-west for much of the day. Nottinghamshire made the most of the time available, with Luke Fletcher removing both openers in single figures to leave Somerset on 20 for two at stumps.

There were centuries from Ben Brown and Michael Yardy as Sussex recovered from a shaky start to earn the first day plaudits at Scarborough. Yorkshire, in the form of Ryan Sidebottom, had begun the day well, restricting the visitors to 27 for three and then 90 for four prior to lunch, with the former England seamer picking up three early wickets during an excellent new ball spell. Brown and Yardy then batted throughout the afternoon session and for much of the evening before the former fell to Sidebottom before the close for 108. Yardy continued though and, in conjunction with Kirk Wernars, saw Sussex though to 335 for five at stumps.

Adam Wheater and Ryan ten Doeschate both hit centuries on the first day of Essex’s LV= County Championship Division Two match at Colchester. Gloucestershire had enjoyed the better of the first session as their seam bowlers tore the Essex upper-order to shreds on the way to reducing them to 55 for five before lunch. However, Wheater and ten Doeschate then launched a blistering counter-attack as they shared a sixth wicket partnership of 204 in less than 40 overs, with Wheater’s hundred coming off just 86 balls. Ten Doeschate was, as can be expected of a man who has scored just 11 runs in his last six innings, somewhat more circumspect but he still managed to end the day with 120 from 174 balls as the home side ended on 359 for nine.

Northamptonshire and Derbyshire ended the opening day at Chesterfield with little to separate them after a closely contested day had seen the visitors dismissed for 267 in their first innings. Alex Wakely had continued his fine recent form with an innings of 88, but Mark Footitt, playing his first match of the season, took five for 53 to help the hosts fight back. Martin Guptill then made 55 in the Derbyshire reply before falling just before the close to leave them on 116 for four.

Leicestershire’s bowlers endured a frustrating opening day against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay as, after taking two early wickets, they allowed the hosts to close on 328 for eight in their first innings. All of the Glamorgan’s middle-order reached double figures, with Jim Allenby, Mark Wallace (both 55) and Gareth Rees (71) all passing 50, as the visitors struggled for regular breakthroughs. Matthew Hoggard was the pick of the bowlers with two for 39.

Kent’s middle-order once again found it tough going on the first day at Canterbury. Joe Denly made 55 to get them off to a good start, but Corey Collymore had a hand in five dismissals – one a run-out – as they were eventually all out for 242 in less than 65 overs. Middlesex then compounded the home side’s woes by reaching 55 without loss at the close.

Jason Roy and Matthew Spriegel were the heroes for Surrey as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 with a 130-run win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston. The Lions elected to bat and enjoyed a brisk start thanks to a swashbuckling opening stand between Rory Hamilton-Brown (33 from 23 balls) and Steve Davies (40 from 28). Jason Roy then continued the fireworks with his maiden list A century and Spriegel chipped in with a late 40 not out to haul them up to 282 for seven. Warwickshire lost wickets at regular intervals during the run chase and were tied down by Surrey’s spin duo of Spriegel (three for 39) and Gareth Batty (one for 11) to be bowled out for 152 in the 29th over.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures

Day Two, LV= CCD1, Lancashire v Worcestershire at Blackpool

Day Two, LV=CCD1, Somerset v Nottinghamshire at Taunton

Day Two, LV=CCD1, Yorkshire v Sussex at Scarborough

Day One, LV=CCD1, Warwickshire v Hampshire at Edgbaston

The home side will be hoping for a good performance from Boyd Rankin, who has been boosted by a call-up for the England Lions, while Hampshire will continue to be captained by Jimmy Adams in the absence of the injured Dominic Cork.

Day Two, LV=CCD2, Derbyshire v Northamptonshire at Chesterfield

Day Two, LV=CCD2, Essex v Gloucestershire at Colchester

Day Two, LV=CCD2, Glamorgan v Leicestershire at Colwyn Bay

Day Two, LV=CCD2, Kent v Middlesex at Canterbury

County News in Brief

Northamptonshire have been busy on the contract front over the last 24 hours; handing a new two-year deal to wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien; securing the services of Scotland batsman Kyle Coetzer on loan from Durham for the rest of the season; and announcing their intention to release veteran seamer David Lucas at the end of the season. Lucas is expected to call time on his playing career in order to concentrate on his window cleaning business in Nottingham.

Warwickshire CCC are considering renaming their indoor cricket centre after their former opening batsman and long-serving batting coach Neal Abberley who died recently.